Fluid-operated work-holding vise



Aug. 21, 1945. s. F. BURGOINE ET AL FLUID-OPERATED WORKHOLDING VISE s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1944 8/0/15) F Bare 175/8552 TE. Emma/v 4 l/W V) A ttorneyo V Aug. 21, 1945. s. F. BURG OIN E ETAL 2,332,958

7 FLUID-OPERATED WORKHOLDING VI SE Filed March 14, 1944 3 Shets-Sheet 2 In ventors ltorneys f-T 5018001105 Hereaser 5. EL-SDE/Y, Y

li l llll I llalll .jzamsy Aug. 21, 1945. s. F. BURGOINE ET AL FLUID-OPERATED WORKHOLDING VISE Filed 'March 14, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I II NR Kb mw MN mm QM O N WK R mw km/alvraes 6/0/1571? Bueaomli,

Bra/m F M Attorney;

Patented Aug. 21, 1945 FLUID-OPERATED WORK-Hemmer visa Sidney F. Burgoine and Herbert Edward Elsden,

} CheItenham, England e -Application March 14, 1944, Serial No. 526,448 K In Great Britain February 1, 1943 I 14 Claims. e1. 24- 2143) I The present invention is a work-holding device in which gripping or clamping of the work, is effected by fluid pressure operating in an expansible capsule.

It is an object of the invention to provide a work-holding device in which a longer complicated piece of work can be clamped'or gripped by a simple and preferably by a single operation. It is afurther object of the invention to provide a work-holding device in which a plurality of clamping members can be effectually actuated at a simple and preferablyata single operation.

.Yet a further object, of theinvention is the provision ofa fluid actuated clamp which enables work to beefiectuallyclamped despite irregularities of contour. i 1, v

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clampingdevi'ce which, being dependent for clamping operation upon fluid pressure, enables the clamping pressure, to belconsiderablyvaried according to the fragility, or otherwise of the work,

erencenumeral ;I10, an"d is seen in chain line. The sheet materialisgripped between the laterally spaced pairs ofjaws ll andylZ, and I3 and I4.- Theefixed jaws H and I3 canbe regarded'asfixtures on the base gmountings l5, but arereadily removable for servicing or replacement to suit difierent'work, The movable jaw members 1 land. I 4 operate as a sliding fit in suitably disposedslots provided in the base mountings I5." To actuate the movablejaws I2 and [4 for clampin the work, fluid pressure is deliveredto the interior of the elongated tubular capsules [6. The tubular capsules l 6 arein thiscase preferably of: thin fiexible steel, and are completely sealed, and may be operated for expansion-under control of a single valve, or there may be a valve indi-' vidual to each capsule. 1

As shown inFigures land 2, the steel capsules,

for the greater. part of their periphery, conform to the shape of a housing provided therefor in each of the base castings l5, but with sufiicient and having due regard to the operation to be I performed.

Yet a-further object of the invention is t e pie vision of a vice or other, clamping device toaccommodatea plurality of articles of work and to grip them effectually despite the fact thatone or more of the individual articles of work maybe somewhatunder sizein relation to another. e

' Further objects of the, invention are made apparent in the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying draw'ingsin which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts, and in which Figure 1 illustrates two laterally opposedhy draulically operated work-clamping devices, suitable for such a purpose as gripping the edges of sheet metal for a shaping operation to be performed thereon,;the sheet metal being diagram matically indicated by the chainline,

Figure 2 is a detailed side elevation, partly. in section, showing end clamping mechanism and clearance to allow for movement of the capsule under pressure andthe upper face of each capsule, against which the co-operating end of the re- .spective movable-jaw element l2. or. H bears, as

the case may be, is recessed as indicated at IS. The arrangement is such that on application of fluid pressure from an appropriate sourceof supply, internal pressure within the capsule l6 forces the depression outwardly and actuates the associated movable clamping. element l 2 o r l4 appropriately. i

Thearrangements for sealin the ends of the elongatedtubular capsules will best be understood with reference to Figures ,2 and 3. 3 serve to illustratefone particularly suitable form of end fitting, one such end fitting beingprovided at, each end of each. elongated tubular capsule suchas those represented by the reference numeral 16 inFigure 1, and for convenience again used in Figures 2 and .3. The end fitting I! is end sealing of a tubular capsule as shown in the clamping devices illustratedin Figure 1, U

, Figure ,3. is a section; on the line of.

i urel' Figurel illustrates a modification'of the invention in which the gripping. action at one side of the clampor vice is provided;v by a plurality of separate, clamping jaws actuated by a common capsuleinelongated tubular form, similar to those shown with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, the sheet metal, or ,other material to be subjected ently deformable sealing member l9 of natural formed of twocomplementary. clamping blocks shapedito define the recess l8. Each end of the capsule I 6 is closedbya gland backing plate l1A,.'norma1ly ,of metal, against which a resiliorisynthetic rubber iscompressed subject to axial pressurev byload applied through the metal pressure plate 20, thus to deform the resilientlydeformable sealing member l9 radially outwards, to press the capsule 16, into engagement with the wallsof theflrecesslB to provide an effective fluid tight closure for the end of the capsule I6. The K pressure plates 20 are pulled up against the reto a shapingjoperation, [is indicated by. theref-,,55 silientlydeformable.sealingmember l9 by tight- Figures 2 and shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, is the fact that the upper edge of the housing 59 which mounts the reaction member is accurately ground and is provided not only with a slide groove as indicated at 60, but also with jig mounting holes as indicated at 6|. The arrangement is thus such that a jig for a drilling or alike operation can be installed It will be noted that at its inwardly directed,

end the recess 8 is flared as indicated at BA in order to provide for an adequate measureof capsule flexure.

tends to increase as pressure increases internally sure in th capsule I6 is effective over the entire face of the pressure member 20, which isg-reater in area than the cross-sectional area of the resiliently deformable sealing member I9 because of the unsupported area effect introduced by the bolts 23 passing through the resiliently deform-- able member l9. In most cases the friction introduced by radial expansion of the resiliently deformable sealing member IQ'against the inner periphery of the capsule I6 is sufficient to prevent the composite gland so constituted from being blown out of thecapsule and end fitting, but if desired dowels may extend between the clamping blocks and gland backing member |-'|a, asindicated at |'|b. I v

In the form seen with referenceto- Figures 2 and 3, the end fitting maybe whollyexternal of the housing for the tubular capsule l6, but

It should be noted thatthe seal.- ing effect of'the resiliently deformable member. l9-

of the capsule I6, for the simple reason thatpres Y and operated with the work clamped in position. The/edge 82,can'- a1so bev ground. or milled to provide a working guide face to co-operate with an indexing member for running parallel with respect to the face of the reaction member.

ln regard to-the reaction member 55 that, like the...individual gripping jaws 53, is preferably readily detachable to suit different types of work. It is an important feature, particularly of the construction shown in Figure 4, that the pressure member 52' is sufficiently flexible longitudinally to accommodate slight variation in dimensions in some cases, at least one portion of the clamp may be formed integrally with the housing.

In the construction shown with reference to Figure 4", the capsule 5| bears on' the "pressure member 52 for transmission of actuating load to the laterally contiguous but separate gripping jaws 53', which are slidably located in the carrier-- or'housing 54. On the introduction of actuating fluid pressure to the interior or the capsule 5|, the jawmembers 53"are loaded to travel towards the reaction jaw 55. The reaction jaw 55 may be formed in one piece, although there may be cases in' which a stationary reaction jaw will preferably be replaced by separate movabl'e'jaws under control of a pressure capsulesimilar to the pressure capsule 5|.

Certain additionalfeatures'are introduced into Figure 4; which may fincl useful application in the forms of the invention described with reference to Figures 1,- 2 and 3. Thus. it will be noted that the housing 54 as seen in Figure 4 is constituted of two parts, the main lower part indicated by the reference numeral 54, and the bolted on upper part indicated by; the reference numeral 56. The parts 54 and 56 co-operate to define a recess in which the individual movable. gripping jaws 53, are slidable. To ensure return of the individual movable gripping jaw members 53, on relief of internal pressure in the capsule. 5|, so as to provide for release of. the gripping action, a'wire spring El is disposed in. a space between each pair of adjacent individualmovable clamping members 53, to co-operate each with a transverse pin 58. The spring 51,,is distorted from its natural form on application ofv pressure internally of the elongated capsule 5|, and naturally returns to its original form on release of such internal pressure.

Another feature which is clearly illustrated. in Figure 4, and is applicable to the construction of 'a plurality of clamped items of work engaged between the reaction member 55 and the indivi'dual pressure jaws 53. To some-extent advantage may be taken ofthe use of similarly flexible pressure members to accommodate irregularities or taper of the work to be clamped.

Another feature which is illustrated in Figure '4 is theprovision of adjustment for the housing 54. A limited degree of adjustment may be provided for both in the longitudinal sense and the transverse sense, and for that purpose the house ing 54' is connected to the base plate 63 by bolts 64, which pass through clearance slots 55- in the base plate. The SIQtS GE' can be e'longatedto any 1,, predetermined extent, and the 'reducedsquaredportions 56 provide for clearance infthe transverse or lateral sense also. The bolts fi l l terminate in a squared eye end6-1, and co operat'e with the-zstraight centreporti'ons 68 of a double taper cotter pin, the double taper surfaces 69 and 10, of which lie ateach side of the centre straight portion, and co-operate with the wedge members TI and 12 respectively. The cotter pin isacc'essible through a suitable. slot in the base of the machine for adjustment by first unscrewing the locking nut 13 to free the housing 54Lfor adjust-' ment, and when the housing has been set to the required position, the nut 131s tightenedup again so that the wedges 1| and 'lzride'upj their respec tive tapers to draw the bolt 64, and therefore. the housing, tightly down .on to the bed 63.

It Will: be noted: thatin regard to Figure 4 the' pressure member 52 rides in theslot 74' of the housing 54, and that the" face .15 of, that slot" provides a positive abutment stop beyond which 55" the pressure. member 52. cannot move forward under the influence of pressure applied internally of the capsule 5|. The advantage of that ar-. rangement is that movement of the individual jaw members 53 is essentially limited, so that the clamp. can still be operated without danger of damage" to the capsules even if some of the individual jaws have no work to clamp, Advantage may be taken of that feature to limit the travel 1 of the. pressure member inany of the construc-' tionsso'far described, and where it is likely that. excessive distortion of the capsule 'mightotherwise'occur'.

As has been stated. the flow of actuating fluid at pressure to the interior of a plurality of capsules. can be under control. of. a single valve, or

a plurality of valves, according to requirements. j The use of fluid pressure, whichmay be provided by compressed air or other gas, or by ,a

pump controlled liquid supply, or liquid supplied at pressure delivered from a hydraulic accumulator, enables clamping pressure to be applied gradually, and exactly to the extent required,

to be adapted to suit various kinds of work irrespective of whether a light clamping action'is required for fragile work, or a heavy clamping action for more substantial work.

In cases Where a movable clamping element is required to make such movement in operation as would involve excessive distortion of a capsule, a plurality of capsules can be disposed contiguously, or with pressure members between them, so that the distortion of one operates additively to the other or others. a

We claim:

said capsule means and said movable clamping means.

7. A work-clamping device as set forth in claim- 5, embodying a flexible pressure member intermediate said capsule means and said movable clamping means, and wherein said movable 1. Ina work-clamping member, embodying at least two clamping jaws, at least one of which is movable toward and away from the other for clamping workengaged between them; a hollow capsule having a recessed flexible face for engagement with a pressure member operatively associated with the movable jaw means, and a pressure fluid flow connection communicating with the interior of said capsule for flexure of said flexible face outwardly, to urge said movable jaw means toward the co-operating clamping jaw means.

2. In a work-clamping device, embodying at least two clamping jaws, at least one of which is movable toward and away from the other for clamping work engaged between them; an elongated distortable hollow capsule open at its ends, a resiliently deformable sealing member within each end of said capsule. a backing plate anda pressure plate at opposite sides of the sealing member, and also disposed within said capsule, means embracing the ends of said capsule externally, bolt means actingto draw the backing plate and the pressure plate together. to expand said sealing member radially outwards against said embracingmean by application of pressure axially of the capsule, and means for supplying actuating fluid pressure internally of said capsule to flex it expansibly.

3'. Th combination as set forth in claim 2, in which the bolt means incorporate passage for actuating fluid flow to the interior of the capsule.

4. The combination asset forth in claim 2, in which the bolt means incorporate a bleed port to permit escape of air from the interior of the capsule.

5. A work-clamping device comprising movable clamping means, reaction means co-operating therewith for work clamping, capsule means operatively associated, with said means and having an inwardly flexed wall distortable outwardly by internal pressure, and means to apply pressure internally of said capsule means for outward flexure of said flexible wall effectually to expand said capsule means and load said movable clamping means toward said reaction means.

6. A work-clamping device as set forth in claim 5, embodying a pressure member intermediate clamping means is formed of adjoining separate segments.

8.. A work-clamping device comprising movable clamping means constituted by a plurality of separate elements, reaction cmeans co-operating therewith for work clamping, a capsule embodying a flexible wall operatively associated with, and common to, a plurality of said separate elements of saidmovable. clamping means, said capsule being distortable by flexure of a flexible wall of said capsule for outward flexure of said flexible wall effectually to expand said capsule means and load said movable clamping means toward said reaction means.

9. A work-clamping device comprising a movable clamping element and a fixed reaction memher, a sealed, flexible-walled, inflatable capsule operatively interposed therebetween, said capsule having its wall adjacent the movable element recessed, and a projection operatively. associated with the movable element received in such recess of the capsule, for receiving and transmitting pressure from the capsule upon its inflation and distortion to the movable element to move the latter.

10. A work-clamping device as 'in claim 9, wherein the capsules flexible wall is formed of sheet metal.

11. A work-clamping device as in claim .9, wherein the movable clamping element is divided lengthwise into a plurality of individually movable elements, and wherein the flexible capsule extends lengthwise in common operative relationship to the several individual elements.

12. A work-clamping device as in claim 9,

wherein the fixed reaction member is formed with movable clamping limit stops, and the movable clamping element is a formed with cooperating stops limiting its pressure-induced movement.

13. A work-clamping device as in claim 9, wherein the capsule walls are open at each end, and the seal therefor comprises a resilient packing member sandwiched between an external backing plate and an internal pressure plate, the resilient packing member being thereby pressed outwardly against the walls of the capsule.

14. A work-clamping device as in, claim 9, wherein the capsule walls are open at each end, and the seal therefor comprises a resilient packing member sandwiched between an external backing plate and an internal pressure plate, the resilient packing member being thereby pressed outwardly against the walls of the capsule, and bolt means extending through the two plates and the resilient packing member, and accessible externally of the capsule to draw the plates together and thereby to squeeze the resilient packing member against the capsules walls.

SIDNEY F. BURGOINE. H. EDWARD ELSDEN. 

